Question

50 points, need a REAL answer asap!! please help!! any not serious answers will be reported.

Identify the dispersal vector illustrated and explain and the implications of the following scenario.

Situation: A student was running an experiment using local frog spawn, intending to release the frogs after they’d gone through all the phases of metamorphosis. For the sake of convenience, the student used flowering water plants purchased at an aquarium to create the various environments for the frogs. When the experiment was through, the student released the frogs back into their pond by removing the plants and pouring out the entire habitat. A year later, the student came back to find new, non-native plants of the same variety used in the experiment now growing in the frog pond.

Answer 1

The dispersal vector illustrated in the scenario is **unintentional introduction through human activity**. The student introduced non-native flowering water plants into the frog pond while conducting the experiment. The plants were purchased from an aquarium and were not native to the area where the experiment was being conducted.

The implications of this scenario are that the non-native plants have established themselves in the frog pond and are now growing there. This can have negative impacts on the ecosystem, as the non-native plants could outcompete native plants for resources, alter the physical and chemical properties of the water, and impact the food web. In addition, the non-native plants could potentially spread to other water bodies, further disrupting ecosystems and potentially leading to the loss of native species.

It is important to note that unintentional introduction through human activity is a major driver of global biodiversity loss. It is crucial for individuals to be aware of the potential impacts of their actions, and take steps to prevent the introduction of non-native species into ecosystems. This can include properly disposing of plants and animals, avoiding the release of pets into the wild, and being cautious when introducing new species into an environment.